Commemorative function on first hoisting of Tricolour by Netaji

Port Blair, Dec 30 (UNI) The 64th anniversary to mark the historic occasion of hoisting of the National Tri-colour for the first time in the Indian soil in Port Blair by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, was observed here today.

Lt Governor Lt General (Retd) Bhopinder Singh, hoisted the National Flag in commemoration of the day at a function and also inspected a guard of honour presented by the police on the occasion.

Earlier, Lt Gen Singh paid tributes at the Netaji Statue, 1857 Memorial Marina Park, Battle of Aberdeen Memorial and Martyrs' Column National Memorial Cellular Jail.

West Bengal Minister in-charge, Agriculture and Consumer Department, Narendra Nath Dey, Chief Secretary of the Island C Targay and freedom fighter (INA) Sardar Pratap Singh were present at the function.

On this day in 1943, Netaji hoisted the National Flag for the first time declaring the islands, the first Indian territory freed from the British rule. His historic visit to the Andaman made a symbolic fulfillment of his promise that INA would stand on the Indian soil by the end of 1943.

A memorial stands today at the Andaman Club, Netaji Stadium as a mute testimony of his visit to the islands and the historic moment of hoisting of the country's tri-colour.

UNI